The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ever expanding place. While every few months bring the premiere of a new critically and financially successful blockbuster, there's also some prime content being produced on the small screen. The best of which are Netflix's New York City based shows, which are decidedly more adult than anything the shared universe has brought to theaters. While each of the Defenders (and John Bernthal's Punisher spinoff) bring something different to the table, there's no one quite like Krysten Ritter's delightfully alcoholic Jessica Jones. With Season 2 being released in its entirety in a matter of days, it's time we reexamined why the series is the best Marvel has to offer.
Jessica Jones' Psyche Is The Show's Focus
One of the main challenges when it comes to adapting comic book material is somehow making the story relatable. None of us can leap tall buildings in a single bound, so it's not always easy to understand the experience of characters like Tony Stark or Thor. But Jessica Jones, while a mystery show with badass action sequences, is fairly capsulated and laser focused. Audiences see the world through Jessica's often intoxicated eyes, and are therefore able to deeply connect with her.
Season 1's focus was very much on Jessica's trauma in the wake of Kilgrave's influence and abuse. She regularly suffered from nightmares and other affects of PTSD, rather than being a seemingly invincible superhero. And while she was able to snap her abuser's neck in the finale of Season 1, Jessica Jones' sophomore season once again seems very focused on its protagonist's mental state. Trailers for Season 2 reveal that she'll be delving into the death of her family and the experiments that gave her abilities. So prepare for adventure, Jessica style.
The Supporting Characters Are Complex And Interesting
While each of Netflix's Marvel shows are focused on their respective title characters, they all come with a different neighborhood and a bevy of supporting characters. But these characters aren't always the most interesting, and fans can get antsy for the hero to return to the screen. Seeing Iron Fist's Meachums onscreen was like watching paint dry, while Daredevil's Karen and Foggy still haven't been given enough interesting things to do. But Jessica Jones' supporting characters are delightfully flawed, and help enrich the world of the series.
Trish deals with issues revolving around her mother, and her past as a child star. Additionally, she's got an ambition to join crime fighting, which was teased in the trailer for Season 2. Malcolm was introduced as Jessica' drug dealer neighbor, but he eventually was able to sober up and help Jessica at Alias Investigations. Carrie-Anne Moss' Jeri Hogarth is a cut throat lawyer, who tries desperately to hide her vulnerability from the world. Kilgrave and Luke Cage helped round out the cast of Season 1, although it's unclear how the villain will factor into the show's sophomore season on Netflix. These characters are all fascinating and layered, making Jessica Jones a cerebral and emotional experience.
We'll just have to wait and see how the characters, both supporting and leading, end up when Jessica Jones finally returns for its sophomore season. While she was a main character in The Defenders, it's been almost two years of waiting for the series to return for a full season. It's Jessica's time to shine, and it's a long time coming.
Jessica Jones Season 2 will debut March 8th on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Additionally, be sure to check ourAmazon premiere list and superhero premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.
